Phil Colón has served the industries of Advertising, Digital, Publishing, Consumer Marketing, Non-Profit, Foreign Affairs and Public Policy as an entrepreneur, senior executive, consultant, and commentator offering expertise in the areas of consumer insights, cross-cultural marketing and community building via cause-related platforms and social causes.

Mr. Colón has worked with Fortune 100 companies throughout his career and is considered by many within the branding community as a pioneer in the U.S. Latino market. He is regularly noted as a trusted source in trend forecasting and for his uncanny ability of identifying cultural movements before they become mainstream.

Phil has been quoted in: WSJ, Ad Age, Forbes, Brand Week, The National Journal, Fast Company, LA Times, NYT, and the Atlantic. He has also been a featured commentator on: CNBC, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX and Univision on topics ranging from Small Business to Branding to Public Policy. Phil has also made appearances on: Good Day New York, Power Lunch, Hispanic Horizons, Visiones, and Hispanics Today. He is a frequent speaker on the conference circuit.such as: SRI (Strategic Research Institute), Urban Institute, and the Youth Trends Conference. Mr. Colón is a member of the Directorship 100 and is also a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

CAREER TIME-LINE:

In 1996, Mr. Colón helped with the growth and development of Urban Latino Magazine (www.urbanlatino.com), a publication that targets the acculturated U.S. Latino youth market. This was the first media outlet of its kind and pioneered the movement for creating a voice for 2nd Generation Latinos who were born in the United States. Urban Latino paved the way and today there are over 20 media outlets that now serve this audience (MTV Tres, Mun2, LATV, Nuvo TV, etc.).

In 2000, Phil Colón co-founded Latin Vox (www.thevoxcollective.com), formerly known as Ruido Group, which at the time was the nation’s first full service communications and marketing agency focusing primarily on the U.S. Latino youth. Today there are well over 30 agencies that now focus on this important growth segment.

Mr. Colón is also member of the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). In 2003, he held the position of co-chair of the Latin Music Advisory Committee whose efforts led to the creation of the Latin Grammys.

In 2002, Phil made his home at Coca-Cola North America as Senior Brand Manager for Coca-Cola Trademark Brands. Phil was directly responsible for developing and implementing strategies and plans for Coca-Cola Classic, Sprite, and Diet Coke. He also provided consumer marketing expertise and system leadership supporting the company’s strategy for targeting the U.S. Latino market.

In 2004, Mr. Colón along with actress Rosario Dawson co-founded Voto Latino (www.votolatino.org), a non-partisan, youth driven, multi-issue, national organization founded for the purpose of creating a unified voice for Latino youth and young adults on issues that impact their lives on a daily basis.

In 2009, Phil formed Culture Speak, a Public Policy consultancy geared toward aiding brands and political leaders to better communicate to the Latino youth market via cause-related platforms and community building.

In 2011, Phil Colón along with long time friend and legendary brand strategist Darryl Cobbin (Coca-Cola, Boost Mobile, Fox) launched Monarch Brands LLC, a consumer goods company focusing on the creation of life enriching products and brands for young adults. The company also provides growth opportunities for youth via entrepreneurism, self-empowerment and community development.